If you report suspicious activity you should be open to be sued

[Truthiness Inspector]

I haven't seen this discussed here, which is not to say it hasn't been discussed but I haven't been able to find it.

What do you think of this vote?

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00261#position

This is a vote on whether or not people reporting suspicious activity should be immune from lawsuits.

What am I missing about this bill that seems to make sense on its face, but has these results?

[jeff30997]

1. I just clicked on the ALERT button...

Sue me !:)

[Truthiness Inspector]

2. Why? n/t

On edit: LOL, just got the joke, long day. :o

[lonestarnot]

3. If it is found to be a malicious false reporting then perhaps?

[Truthiness Inspector]

4. Is that in the bill?

I don't know.

There are already longstanding criminal sections in place for people who file false reports to authorities. This is talking about having civil exposure for reporting suspicious activity.

[lonestarnot]

5. The bill at the link you provided? I didn't see it, but I'm tired.

[Truthiness Inspector]

6. I don't think there is any language in there about malicious reporting

as that is already covered in criminal statutes nationwide. This seems to be about reporting suspicious activity, period, and then by doing so opening yourself up to the wonderful world of bogus litigation for trying to do a basic civil duty.

[lonestarnot]

8. It seems wierd, haven't they solicited this type of reporting?

Today is opposite day. We have the ease up on torture lie and the crack down on mericans eo bullshit. I'm already skitzie from these people who have invaded and taken over our government without a shot. No sense in trying to recover now, not until they are thrown on the lawn.

[SoCalDem]

7. Children's Services people already know how this tactic works

Neighbors with a beef, call and "tip off" the agency about the "mistreated" children..

This is a common strategy too in pre-divorce settings too..

Unfortunately, it takes caseworkers' time, and distracts them from their already heavy caseload.

[Truthiness Inspector]

9. I hear ya

but this bill is different. This was based directly on the "flying Imams" case, meaning the passengers of a plane who reported suspicious activity and now may be open to having their lives ruined for having done so. I don't think that is right.

But I see and understand the point you made.

[SoCalDem]

10. People should be warned that a "creepy feeling" about someone who is different

is not enough to report someone and open their life to hell on earth.

If a neighbor who didn't like you, reported you because he "saw you talking to two arabs, who looked shifty", how would you prove you had not?

[Truthiness Inspector]

11. You raise a good question

What types of behavior would constitute suspicious to you?

[SoCalDem]

12. Exactly.. "my" suspicious feeling might not be "your" suspicious

but a phone call from me could trigger an "investigation" of YOUR life..

[Truthiness Inspector]

13. So report nothing? n/t

[SoCalDem]

14. Not saying that.. just that people need to be careful not to invade others' privacy

on a whim..

[Truthiness Inspector]

15. So what would you report? n/t

[Truthiness Inspector]

16. Kick

Question: So what would you report?

(SoCalDem has offered many great posts here on DU, so this is not directed at her, but anyone here willing to tackle this important question.)

[SoCalDem]

19. I would report out-of-the-ordinary

comings & goings of people that don't live here..example..

about 5 years ago, my son said.."Mom there are some really weird people coming & going to the house down the street"..

I did not call the police, but I did tell a friend who was a cop.(know what I mean?).. he and his partner cruised by a few times and kept an eye out..

About a month later, a big truck showed up and they spent a DAY hauling stuff out of the garage in big blue barrels..(dressed in hazmat suits)..

My friend said they were "cooking"..

[Mojorabbit]

17. It just shows how fucked up things have become

in the past six years. Now it is inform on your neighbor time which would have been unthinkable before.
It keeps people in fear and anxiety about their safety.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. I once reported suspicious activity at my neighbor's house.

He wasn't home, and I noticed a guy I'd never seen before walking into his yard, looking around, and taking a ladder out. My first thought was, "Oh, Bill's having some work done on the house." Then I watched the guy leave the yard, and strt walking down the street with the ladder.

Now it DID occur to me that Bill might have lent the ladder to someone; but I also thought that if someone was walking out of MY yard with MY ladder without my permission, I'd hope my neighbors would get involved. So I called the police. The guy showed up a little while later, as I was talking with the cop; because he was borrowing other tools as well. So I apologized profusely, and felt horribly embarrassed. But I'd do it again.

My neighbor now lets me know when someone is going to be coming by to borrow something or do some work on his house. :-)

While I don't think people should be completely immune from lawsuits, I do think they should feel they can report truly suspicious activity without fearing repercussions. In cases where someone appears to be reporting people in order to harass them, however, the harrassed should be able to sue.

[SoCalDem]

20. Oooh. now I know your true identity

:rofl:

[Swamp Rat]

21. spying and suing and spying and suing

Where are we going?

[Truthiness Inspector]

23. It's not about spying, and it's not about suing

It's about common sense.

Let me give you an example. I once caught a man with a large dark object in his hand reaching into my parked car at 5 am as I was leaving for work, and quickly noticed that every car on my street had broken windows. Whatever to do? LOL.

[Swamp Rat]

24. Screw that!!!

KABOOM!!!

Make sure to tell your neighbors to get out of the way. :)

[Jed Dilligan]

22. Better still,

why don't we just put a gold lion's head on the side of the courthouse so people can slip anonymous accusations into its mouth?